union gospel mission

Nearly half of individuals contacted move to alternate living situations as City closes the Cloverleaf to camping

May 18, 2017 by Homelessness Response

On Friday, May 12, City crews posted notices of the impending closure in both English and Spanish around the site and on individuals tents, as shown here.

Yesterday, the City took the next step to close the area that stretches from the I-90 on/off-ramps at Rainier Avenue South (the “Cloverleaf”) north to South Dearborn Street to unauthorized camping. The area has experienced increasing public safety and health concerns impacting homeless individuals and the surrounding community, and some of the land will soon be put to use by Sound Transit for the East Link Light Rail extension project (see previous post for more).

Since May 1, the City’s Navigation Team of specially trained Seattle Police officers and outreach workers has been conducting repeated, intensive outreach to individuals camping in this location, offering alternative shelter, individualized services and storage of personal belongings. Over the last two weeks, the Navigation Team made more than 300 documented contacts to a total of 56 people in the Cloverleaf area. Prior to yesterday’s effort, many individuals had accepted and were moved to alternate living situations, with most moving to the City-sanctioned encampments where they will receive case management to get the support needed to move onto a more permanent living situation.

Navigation Team officers and UGM outreach workers talk with an individual to determine what services she may need.

By the time the Cloverleaf was closed to camping yesterday, 26 people had moved to alternate living arrangements, including 21 who moved to sanctioned encampments. As with other encampment removals, services beyond alternative shelter were offered, resulting in the following:

— Seven people assisted in securing state ID.
— Three people provided with medical assistance at the encampment site.
— Four people received coordinated entry housing assessments.
— 11 people connected to case management services.
— Six people referred to MID employment coordinator for assistance with housing.
— 32 total mental health outreach contacts provided on May 11, 15-16.

Neighbors served breakfast and coffee under the I-90 overpass on Rainier Avenue. They also organized an effort to pack “to-go” bags with food and water, and worked with the Navigation Team to have them distributed to campers.

Nine individuals declined any options offered. Another eight disclosed they would look for another place to camp. Still, the Navigation Team is seeing positive outcomes through offers of a comprehensive service package along with significant assertive and mental health outreach. This particular effort included essential support from REACH, Union Gospel Mission and the Mental Health Outreach Team.

A group of neighbors and other community members have been generously supporting individuals living unsheltered in these locations, including providing a weekly meal service, delivery of supplies and assistance with trash cleanup. Once the area was scheduled for closure, these neighbors reached out to the City to see how they could support the individuals during the cleanup. The City welcomed their assistance, happy to collaborate with these neighbors and provide a space where they served coffee and breakfast and could engage with individuals exiting the camp. This model could be replicated at future encampment removals, as long as it is coordinated in advance.

A member of the Navigation Team checks to see if anyone is in this tent and is interested in a to-go bag of food and water provided by neighbors.

Next steps

In addition to the Navigation Team and outreach working with individuals, City field coordinators assisted people with storage of belongings. Cleanup crews were on standby until people had moved. Today, City crews are continuing cleanup and SDOT has begun fencing work around the Cloverleaf. Parks and SDOT crews will begin vegetation removal and tree pruning tomorrow.

Next Tuesday, May 23, cleanup and closure efforts will move north to South Dean Street and Poplar Place South, and along South Dearborn Street to 10^th Avenue South. On June 1, per an agreement with WSDOT, Sound Transit will begin utilizing the area roughly between South Dearborn Street and I-90, from 10th Avenue South on the west to South Dean Street on the east, as a staging area for construction of the East Link Light Rail extension.

Crews collected trash and debris identified as garbage by campers or abandoned. If an owner is not present, trained staff will sort through items and collect personal belongings for storage, unless items are clearly refuse, hazardous or evidence of a crime.

These areas will be designated emphasis areas, which means that they will be posted with signs and regularly monitored. The removal of tents and belongings from posted emphasis areas does not require notice as with other encampments, though personal belongings will be stored when found.

Reducing hazards under low bridge structures, beginning with the Spokane Street viaduct

April 11, 2017 by Homelessness Response

Last week, there were three significant homeless-related fire or fire hazard incidents around critical bridge infrastructure in Seattle: the RV fire under the Spokane Street viaduct/West Seattle Bridge on April 6, a propane tank explosion and fire underneath I-90/Edgar Martinez Way near Airport Way (across from the Field) on April 5, and removal of 26 propane tanks stacked around the base of a Magnolia bridge support column adjacent to a homeless encampment on April 4.

On April 6, Two RVs burned under the west end of the Spokane Street viaduct where it meets the West Seattle Bridge.

Camping under low bridge structures can present a hazard for the City’s essential infrastructure, especially when there are concentrations of flammable materials such as pallets and mattresses, and a likelihood of open flames or vehicles with mechanical issues. SDOT engineers are particularly concerned about the concentration of approximately 30 RVs underneath the western most end of Spokane Street where the structure is the lowest because RVs are composed of a combination of chemicals and flammable materials that burn very hot and present a significant danger to bridge infrastructure. According to SDOT, RVs include many of the same chemicals that brought down I-85 in Atlanta last week.

“Safety is our priority and having encampments and recreational vehicles under the West Seattle Bridge poses public safety risks especially if there are flammable/volatile materials being used to cook and heat inside the vehicles,” said Scott Kubly, SDOT director. “We are working with other City agencies to ensure maintenance access under our structures by keeping the area clear of potentially hazardous materials.”

RVs, furniture, tents, a barbeque and a burn barrel are among items found under the Spokane Street viaduct on Friday, April 7.

“The Seattle Fire Department has responded to a number of fires under the Spokane Street viaduct, including one last week where two RVs were destroyed and another in January where a man died in an RV fire. The concentration of occupied vehicles, tents, pallets, furniture and debris under the low bridge structure has created a specific fire hazard that needs to be addressed for the safety of the vulnerable people living there and the bridge itself,” said Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins.

The City is addressing the immediate hazard where the RV fire occurred last week, clearing that area of any RVs, vehicles, tents and other materials. SDOT has set a perimeter that encompasses the median along Spokane Street, from under the base of the West Seattle Bridge to Colorado Street on the east, that must be cleared. That area will then be fenced off to allow SDOT and Seattle City Light to perform repairs and maintenance, including following up on necessary lighting system repairs.

SPD’s Sgt. Zerr and REACH outreach workers, all members of the City’s Navigation Team, get ready to begin offering services and alternative shelter to people living under the Spokane Street Viaduct on Thursday, April 6.

On Friday, April 7, the City provided notice to individuals who were on site that clearing of the area within the perimeter described above would begin on Tuesday, April 11. Recognizing the large number of RVs and other vehicles present, many of which are not operational, the City expects this effort will take several days, possibly into next week. The Navigation Team has also been offering services and alternative shelter to these individuals, outreach that will continue as long as necessary.

Additionally, on Friday the City began notifying RVs and vehicles parked all along the median under the Spokane Street viaduct to the east of the perimeter at Colorado Street that the City will be focusing enforcement of the 72-hour parking law. SPD is assisting with notification and will be leading that enforcement effort as the Navigation Team focuses its outreach efforts on people living in tents in that area.

In general, the City has been focusing its efforts to address the homelessness crisis on working with individuals in tent encampments, especially the ones with the greatest public health and safety concerns for the individuals and the surrounding community. The Navigation Team has been finding success with many individuals, finding solutions that fit their needs and helping move them into safer living situations. Other City crews are addressing the trash related to encampments and illegal dumping in general around the city. In addition to these efforts, we will be assessing these low bridge structures around the city and will prioritize efforts to address immediate hazards.

Royal Brougham encampment cleanup — the day after

March 8, 2017 by Homelessness Response

Due to public safety concerns and serious health hazards, on March 7, the City closed the Royal Brougham encampment. An estimated 37 encampment residents were on location when the City’s Navigation Team and other outreach workers arrived at 7 a.m. A total of eight organizations provided supportive services to the encampment residents, including:

Healthcare for the Homeless
Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC) HOST & Crisis Solutions Team
Evergreen Treatment Services REACH Program
LEAD Program
Seattle Union Gospel Mission – Outreach Team
Salvation Army
SPD – Navigation Team Unit
Seattle Fire Department

A tent was set up, staffed with various care providers, including nurse, outreach workers, housing coordinators and case managers. In the tent, encampment residents had access to seating, water, hand warmers, hats, mittens, donuts, sandwiches and hot chocolate.

March 8, the day after: workers begin to clean up debris and garbage left behind after the Royal Brougham encampment closure.

While the scene at the site today is still very grim, all encampment residents received offers of services and many accepted referrals and offers. Below is a recap:

Individual	Kind of Referral/ Supportive Service	By Organization	Outcome	Notes
Adult Male	Mental Health	SPD (Officer Newburn) & DESC	DESC – Crisis Solutions Center was called out to assess client	Evaluated and transported to Crisis Solutions Center
Adult Male	SUD	Salvation Army	NW William Booth Center	Intake Completed
Young Adult Couple (M&F)	Housing	UGM	Transitionally Housed in Motel	Working with MID to secure housing
8 Adults (M & F)	Housing Assessments	REACH	Completed VISPDAT	Are on waitlist for housing
1 Adults	Mental Health	DESC-HOST	Evaluated for HOST Program.	Outreach to follow.
3 Adult (Females)	Housing	REACH	Referred to Hammond House
1 Adult Male	Veteran Services	REACH	Connected with Vet. Case Manager.	Will be working with REACH case manager
3 Adults (1 Male, 2 Females)	Storage & Reconnect with Family	Salvation Army	Possessions transported and taken to storage.	Pursuing reconnection with family and more permanent housing arrangements. Potentially with family.
1 Adult Male	SUD	REACH	Referred to Seattle Indian Health Board
3 Adults	Identification	REACH	1 Completed the process	2 have appointments with REACH case manager for securing state ID
3 Adults	Case Management	REACH	Reconnected with DESC-SAGE Case Manager	Contact was made with case managers by REACH outreach staff for reconnecting clients.
3 Adults	Family reconnection	REACH	Interested in bus tickets to return to be with family and supports	They are going to get in touch with REACH to determine an exact date.
1 Adult Male	Shelter	REACH	Tent purchased for individual	Individual’s tent was damaged.
7 Adults	Medical	Healthcare for the Homeless	2 people’s feet warmed. 2 people’s hands warmed. 1 assisted with complaints of chest pain (refused to go to hospital). 1 connected with primary care physician and educated on glaucoma.	Healthcare for the homeless nurse provided medical services in addition to education and outreach. Schedules for Mobile Medical van were passed out.
5 Adults	Relocation	REACH	Assisted in relocating to various new locations	At new outdoor locations

Please note: Some individuals accessed services from multiple agencies.

In addition to services provided to the people, the Seattle Animal Shelter checked in with pet owners on site and reported all nine cats they saw appeared healthy, plump and well-cared for. They also provided supplies, including:

Provided temporary housing for a mother cat and two kittens while their owner transferred to a different location. Later in the day, shelter staff returned the cats to their owner and provided him with a carrier, two cat beds, spay/neuter certificates, 36 cans of cat food and a one-year cat license.
Provided the owner of a mother cat with five kittens a 16-lb. bag of food, 18 cans of cat food, two plush beds, spay/neuter certificates, six collars, six harnesses and two collapsible travel water bowls.

An encampment resident asked the City to store his grill. It was catalogued and will be stored for at least 60 days.

Finally, approximately 18 people accepted the City’s offer of storage of personal belongings and one person has already made an appointment to pick up his items today. Including unclaimed items left behind, a total of 55 storage bins of belongings and other large items like grills were delivered to the City’s storage facility yesterday. Belongings will be held for at least 60 days and can be recovered by calling 206-459-9949.